It took Badgers captain Luke Kunin 16 shots on goal to score for the first time at the World Junior Championship. That goal, scored Monday in the United States’ 3-2 victory over Switzerland in Toronto, helped send the U.S. into the semifinals.
It also guaranteed Kunin a quick turnaround for this weekend’s Badgers games. The U.S. plays Russia on Wednesday in Montreal and then has a medal-round game on Thursday.
Barring a travel delay, Kunin is expected to be in the Badgers’ lineup on Friday for what would be his eighth game in 12 days.The likelihood for the World Juniors schedule forcing Kunin to miss any time for the Badgers appears to be low.
“He’s not missing a game. In his mind, he’s not,” Granato said. “Whether we make that decision to just tell him he’s not, that’s up to us. I can promise you that he’s not expecting to not play on Friday.”